Travel Concessions for Pensioners
Who is eligible?
Concessions are available to NSW and interstate pensioners on presentation of their valid Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), although not all fare products and entitlements are available to non-NSW card holders.
PCCs are issued to pensioners by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). They are available to people of different ages and in different circumstances, and include Aged Pensioners, Disability Support Pensioners, single parents and Carer Pensioners. Visit the Centrelink website to check which Commonwealth benefits are eligible for a Pensioner Concession Card.
Transport entitlements do not extend to dependants listed on the reverse of the card.
What concession fares are available?
Pensioners can use their PCC to obtain transport concessions in NSW and interstate.
In NSW, pensioners have access to various entitlements but some fare products are restricted to those from particular States and Territories, and to certain services:
- Half fare concessions on rail (CityRail and long distance rail and rail/coach services), regulated local bus services, and regulated ferry services;
- Excursion fares, including:
- The $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Ticket (PET) on CityRail services, on metropolitan and outer metropolitan regulated local bus services (excluding dedicated school services), and government ferry services. Available on private regulated ferry services but restricted to local residents reliant on the ferry as their point of entry to the metropolitan and outer metropolitan public transport network, and requires prior registration with the local operator;
- The $2.50 Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) fare on CountryLink services provided outside of the CityRail network (only available to NSW/ACT/VIC card holders); and
- The $2.50 Regional Excursion Daily (RED) ticket on regulated local bus services or local bus network in rural and regional areas, but excluding dedicated school services.
Different concession benefits may be offered in other States and Territories, so check before you travel.
Entitlements at a glance - pensioners
| Mode | Operator | Area | Product / entitlement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail | CityRail | Suburban and Intercity network | Single/Return |  |
| Off Peak Return |  |
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| AirportLink Station Access Fee | |
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| 7 and14 Day RailPass | |
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| FlexiPasses | |
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| TravelPass (1) | |
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| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| CountryLink (2) | All NSW routes | Single/Return | |
|
| Country PET (3) | |
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| Great Southern Rail (2) | Sydney - Broken Hill | Single/Return | |
|
| Bus | Government | Metropolitan Sydney | Single/Return | |
| TravelTen | |
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| TravelPass (1) | |
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| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| Outer Metropolitan areas (including Newcastle Ferries) | Single/Return | |
||
| TimeTen | |
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| TravelPass (1) | |
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| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| Privately operated (4) | Metropolitan Sydney | Single/Return | |
|
| Weekly | |
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| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| Outer Metropolitan | Single/Return | |
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| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| Rural / Regional | Single/Return | |
||
| Regional Excursion Daily | |
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| Ferry | Government | Metropolitan Sydney | Single/Return | |
| FerryTen | |
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| TravelPass (1) | |
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| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| Fast Ferries to Manly (4) | Circular Quay & Manly | Single | |
|
| Other private ferries (5) | Metropolitan Sydney | Single | |
|
| Pensioner Excursion Ticket | |
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| Other | Light Rail, monorail (4) | Metropolitan Sydney | Single | |
Notes:
A tick indicates that a half fare concession is available for this product or that this category of beneficiary is entitled to an excursion ticket at the applicable flat, daily rate.
A cross indicates that this product is not available to this category of beneficiary at the concession rate.
Free Means this category of beneficiary is entitled to free travel. No ticket is required, but the user must have a valid entitlement card (where relevant) and produce that card on request.
General Concession entitlements are not available on special or premium services, charter services, special event services or tourism services.
- A half fare concession is available on 7-day TravelPasses only, not on quarterly or annual products.
- NSW/ACT Pensioners ONLY are entitled to a combined total of four (4) single or two (2) return journeys on CountryLink or Great Southern Rail services within NSW each calendar year (booking fees apply with CountryLink for First Class Travel) card holders from other Australian states and territories are entitled to a half-fare.
- The CountryLink PET is only available to NSW, ACT and VIC pensioners. Private bus operators may offer other ticket products at discounted or concession rates. Check with the operator before travelling.
- The fast ferries between Many and Circular Quay, Light Rail and Monorail services are privately owned and operated services and are not operated under contract with the NSW Government. Any concession benefits or discounted tickets are provided by the operators of these services at their discretion. Check with the operator before travelling.
- Most contracted private ferry services recognise the standard concession entitlements but may have different arrangements, based on their existing contractual obligations. Check with the operator before travelling. Private ferry operators may also offer other ticket products at discounted or concession rates. For information, contact the operator. PETs on private ferries are only available to eligible pensioners and seniors who buy the ticket from the operator as their first leg of a trip across the broader public transport network.
How do pensioners prove they are entitled to concession fares?
Pensioners are required to show their Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) when purchasing tickets, booking their free travel entitlements, travelling on concession fares, and when requested by a Transport Officer to verify their entitlement to a concession/free travel entitlement.
What does the Pensioner Concession Card look like?
Click on the images to view a sample of the Pensioner Concession Card - JPG image files.
Where to apply for a card/replacement card
Applications for Pensioner Concession Cards should be made to the Commonwealth Government agencies, Centrelink and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
How long can cards be used?
The PCC is valid for a period of 12 months, to the expiry date shown on the card.
Do any fees apply?
No fees apply for the issue of the PCC/replacement cards (subject to Centrelink/DVA policy).
Last modified: Friday, 12 March 2010
